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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> which lens NIkkor 50 1.4 or 1.8?
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Showing posts 1 - 14 of 14, (reverse)
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 12/13/2006 11:26:11 PM · #1
Hello,
I would like to buy a new portrait lens for my Nikon d50 and I heistate between the
AF 50 mm f/1.8 D
and the AF 50 mm f/1.4 D

Do you think the doble price difference is woth?

I have a
Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D ED
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DX ED

but on both the focus is quite soft especialy on open diafragms.

Thanks in advance
12/13/2006 11:32:05 PM · #2
I love my F/1.4 Here's an example shot at 1.4 , really good in low light.
 12/13/2006 11:36:28 PM · #3
If you need a lens for portraits I would recommend you consider the Nikkor 85mm. I have the 50mm but never use it for portraits, the 85mm I use 85% of the time, the other 25% I use the Nikkor 60mm. It is my personal preference, but I find the 85mm lens the best of the lot for portraits.
 12/13/2006 11:52:42 PM · #4
Originally posted by kiwiness:
If you need a lens for portraits I would recommend you consider the Nikkor 85mm. I have the 50mm but never use it for portraits, the 85mm I use 85% of the time, the other 25% I use the Nikkor 60mm. It is my personal preference, but I find the 85mm lens the best of the lot for portraits.


hello Gary! could you please tell me if it is 1.4 or 1.8 you use? 1.4 is probably the best?
edited to add: the best but not so vital for a beginner? :) I hope not, it costs more than my camera cost:)

Message edited by author 2006-12-14 04:54:27.
 12/14/2006 12:01:37 AM · #5
Originally posted by silverfoxx:
Originally posted by kiwiness:
If you need a lens for portraits I would recommend you consider the Nikkor 85mm. I have the 50mm but never use it for portraits, the 85mm I use 85% of the time, the other 25% I use the Nikkor 60mm. It is my personal preference, but I find the 85mm lens the best of the lot for portraits.


hello Gary! could you please tell me if it is 1.4 or 1.8 you use? 1.4 is probably the best?
edited to add: the best but not so vital for a beginner? :) I hope not, it costs more than my camera cost:)


Privet Sveta. I use the 1.8. It is a lot less expensive. I only use it for studio work so low light conditions are not a factor for me. The most expensive is not always the best :)
 12/14/2006 01:03:57 AM · #6
Originally posted by kiwiness:
If you need a lens for portraits I would recommend you consider the Nikkor 85mm. I have the 50mm but never use it for portraits, the 85mm I use 85% of the time, the other 25% I use the Nikkor 60mm. It is my personal preference, but I find the 85mm lens the best of the lot for portraits.


I'm curious why you feel that way. Can you give more of an explanation? (if there is even more you can say other than it is just your preference) Perhaps you have a large studio space, but it would seem to me that you would have to get pretty far back (relatively speaking) to get a good portrait shot with an 85mm. I mean, on a D200, that's really more of a 128mm right? I have a 50mm 1.8 and I love the DOF control, but I hate how far back I have to get with it to fit stuff in the frame. I hate to imagine how far back I'd have to get with an 85mm.

I was looking into getting a 35mm f/2 for the simple reason that it is closer to an actual 50mm focal length on my camera. And I think f/2 is shallow enough for my tastes. However, I've never used an 85mm, so perhaps you can tell me something that would change my mind on at least looking into an 85mm.
 12/14/2006 01:32:28 AM · #7
I just can't afford a 85/1.4

12/14/2006 01:53:35 AM · #8
I have the 50/1.4 and love it. However, I don't really think it's worth paying double for it.

The 50/1.8 is really good especially considering the price.

12/14/2006 03:07:15 AM · #9
Originally posted by breadfan35:
Originally posted by kiwiness:
If you need a lens for portraits I would recommend you consider the Nikkor 85mm. I have the 50mm but never use it for portraits, the 85mm I use 85% of the time, the other 25% I use the Nikkor 60mm. It is my personal preference, but I find the 85mm lens the best of the lot for portraits.


I'm curious why you feel that way. Can you give more of an explanation? (if there is even more you can say other than it is just your preference) Perhaps you have a large studio space, but it would seem to me that you would have to get pretty far back (relatively speaking) to get a good portrait shot with an 85mm. I mean, on a D200, that's really more of a 128mm right? I have a 50mm 1.8 and I love the DOF control, but I hate how far back I have to get with it to fit stuff in the frame. I hate to imagine how far back I'd have to get with an 85mm.

I was looking into getting a 35mm f/2 for the simple reason that it is closer to an actual 50mm focal length on my camera. And I think f/2 is shallow enough for my tastes. However, I've never used an 85mm, so perhaps you can tell me something that would change my mind on at least looking into an 85mm.


Using the 85mm you are only 1.5 to 2.0 meters away from your model which is fully in the comfort zone. Using the 50mm you have to get up far too close and models usually feel uncomfortable with that. The photos don't turn out as naturally as the could either, especially compared to photos taken with the 85mm.
 12/14/2006 08:08:51 AM · #10
spasibo Gary:)

I've just got 50 mm 1.4 I tried several of them in a shop today and chose this one - I loved how it works in low light. and the prices in krones look scary:) 19000 for one lens is a bit too much psychologically:)
besides my model doesn't seem to feel uncomfotrable no matter what I tell her to do:)
let's see what I can do with the lens. can't wait to try!!
 12/14/2006 08:14:58 AM · #11
I prefer the 50mm for full body shots or wider and the 85mm for anything tighter. If I had to pick between the two for portrait use, I'd take the 85mm hands down. To do the tighter shots with the 50mm, you have to get right up in the model's face and that's not comfortable.
 01/05/2007 08:53:39 AM · #12
I bought the 50/1.8 and I'm very happy with it
thanks again for the suggestions
 01/21/2007 02:44:03 PM · #13
I crrently own the 50f1.8. It is a good lens but like the previous posters said, for tight shots, you need to get to close to the model. I will be getting the 85f1.8 in a couple of weeks. I tried it and I like focal length for headshots at a reasonable distance.
 01/22/2007 07:17:25 AM · #14
As far as the 1.8 or the 1.4 issue goes, I've only owned/used the 1.8, which is great. I've looked into the same issues as I'm considering getting the 1.4 because I do a Lot of Very-light shooting (college-party candids).

Half of the reviews I've read say that the 1.4 is somewhat sharper, and the other say there's virtually no difference. As the 1.8 is fantastic, if you don't need the extra .4, I would recommend going with the 1.8.

As far as the suggestions for the 85 go, I've found that while my 50mm is sharper than my 28-105mm when used at 50, that people prefer the slightly flatter look of my other lens at 105 (it makes people's noses stand out less), so the 85 might be better for that. The 50 is a Really nice lens though.

Message edited by author 2007-01-22 12:20:02.
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